The New Zealand Rugby Union has confirmed the All Blacks were not asked to appear in a World Cup advertisement.

A number of high-profile teams – including the Boks, who were represented by Ashley Johnson – featured in the advert, which has Game of Thrones' actor Charles Dance giving a team talk.

An NZRU spokesman said the union had not been approached to have any All Blacks appear in the commercial. The NZRU was not concerned by the omission, he said.

The All Blacks players who fronted the media on Tuesday ahead of their Rugby Championship clash with Argentina sidestepped the issue and assistant coach Ian Foster was not about to take offence.

'I haven't seen that to be honest. But I'm pretty sure that we have qualified for the World Cup so we'll probably be there,' he said with a smile.

Click here to watch the World Cup video